Health and Wellness

 

Wellness is an integral part of the total education program, and together, work to promote and empower individual student wellness. The goal of the physical education component to the wellness curriculum is the development of competence, confidence and persistence as it relates to educating students in, about and through movement to promote physical activity for a lifetime. The health component to the wellness curriculum is designed to develop a student’s health literacy by increasing their skills, knowledge and understanding of the factors and choices that promote healthy and balanced living. The wellness curriculum gives students the opportunity to focus on the process of wellness in relationship to their own lives and their emerging autonomy, and to help students meet the physical, emotional and cognitive demands of a healthy and balanced life through college and career

 

Curriculum


Elementary

  • The elementary wellness program develops the “whole child” in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.
  • It is the foundation for developing social and motor skills that enable students to move and actively participate in games, sports, and fitness activities.
  • Students work toward mastering a variety of fundamental movement skills, manipulative skills, creative movement experiences, as well as applying basic fitness principles.
  • Opportunities are provided for maximum participation in class and for all students to achieve personal success.

Middle

  • The middle school wellness program is built around the application of skills learned in the elementary years.
  • Students are exposed to a variety of individual and team sports, cooperative, and outdoor/adventure activities, as well as fitness activities.
  • Emphasis is placed on refining game skills/play, problem-solving strategies through the application of game concepts, increasing knowledge of personal fitness, and developing appropriate social skills.  
  • All students are afforded opportunities to become physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity.

High School

  • The high school wellness curriculum focuses on the planning and implementation of lifetime physical activity goals.
  • Students extend and apply skills from previous years, demonstrate competency in lifetime activities, and develop a personal fitness plan.
  • Students are encouraged to participate in courses in the elective program to maintain and enhance their personal fitness levels while enjoying lifelong activities.
  • Ultimately, HPS students will appreciate the importance of personal fitness and pursue a lifestyle of optimal health and wellness.

 

Resources

SHAPE America’s National Standards & Grade-Level Outcomes for K–12 Physical Education  and Health Education define what a student should know and be able to do as result of a highly effective physical education program.

  • PE Standards (pdf opens in a new window)

OPEN Physical Education Resources – Free OER Curriculum Resources with Grade-Level Outcomes

PE Central – Great ideas from teachers for reinforcing lessons in their physical education classes!

PhysEd Games – access to videos that quickly show how to play primary school PE games. PhysEd Games offers this resource, with easy-to-follow instructions for games ranging from dodgeball to football.

 

 

CONTACTS

Tracy Avicolli Director of the Arts & Wellness 860-695-8818 Tracy.Avicolli@hartfordschools.org
Kara Arnold Curriculum Specialist 860-695-8792 GAGLK001@hartfordschools.org